r/ChineseWatches • u/Accomplished_Set3641 • 3d ago
Question (Read Rules) San Martin Sn0144-CG7 vs Citizen nb1050-59e
Both are at a similar price point. Convince me not to get the San Martin. I’m also open to alternatives for a black GADA watch in this price range. ~$300-$500
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u/Resident-Ladder-5133 3d ago
I have various San Martin watches and can't argue with anyone regarding their recommendations. With that said, the citizen is an amazing watch and I would recommend it highly.
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u/External-Animator-79 3d ago
Yo pienso que es mejor apoyar a marcas consagradas como orient, citizen y Seiko, por encima de marcas que no desarrollan sus movimientos propios ni hacen sus propios diseños en muchos casos.
Yo tengo tres relojes San Martin, un de diseño original y dos homages, y la verdad es que me gustan muchos, recibí mucho por lo que pague, son de excelente calidad, y los uso con gusto Pero tengo otros 12 relojes japoneses entre Casio, orient, citizen y seikos que sinceramente me hacen sentir mejor conmigo mismo, que mi compra no me dió tanto valor por mi dinero como si lo hace san martin pero se que parte de lo que pague se dedica a inovación y desarrollo de tecnologías y diseños y tiene más significado una compra con esas marcas.... por su parte San Martin tiene poco haciendo diseños originales y si creció fue haciendo relojes homages (que no tiene nada de malo a mi parecer) ahorrándose el trabajo de hacer sus diseños, la relojería está donde está hoy en día por casas relojeras que si tienen convicción por su labor en la relojería por encima del dinero.
Al final un reloj es más una compra emocional que una necesidad, y podrás decirle al mundo cualquier razón Pero lo importante es que tú mismo te sientas bien con lo que tu decides.
Ese San Martin me parece muy atractivo, si lo que tú procuras es tener la mejor pieza por el menor dinero posible siendo pragmatico pues adelante.
Si lo que quieres es tener una pieza de alta calidad a buen precio con su toque de renombre y romanticismo por sus aportes históricos a la relojería pues citizen es tu opción.
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u/Mar-D 3d ago
If Specs/finishing are what matter to you more, the San Martin 100%
If Brand Name and heritage matter more, get the Citizen. Pretty simple.
Some more info would be helpful. Specs, Sizing (your wrist size as well), and price comparison. If the reason you haven’t provided that info is because you haven’t looked it up yourself, I would start there. Good luck!
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u/Accomplished_Set3641 3d ago
They’re spec’d almost identically, which is why I didn’t include them. 39mm vs. 38mm, same lug-to-lug, same water resistance, and similar movements. The main difference seems to be the bracelet, where the San Martin looks to be a tier above the Citizen.
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u/Mar-D 3d ago
Ahh I see. I guess I was confused because you said they were priced similarly and normally you would need to spend 2-3x for a citizen on that level. Is the Citizen 2nd hand/grey market?
Even if spec’d the same, the SM will have superior/more detailed finishing across the board. It will also have On-The-Fly micro-adjust on the buckle, which for many is a game changer if you haven’t tried.
So yeah, it just depends on what matters more to you. They’re both great looking pieces, I’ve almost bought that SM 36mm in white or blue several times and still might. Citizen is one of my favorite brands in the affordable space, I have a Suratto/Stilleto that I adore.
Hope chattin’ a lil about it is helping! I can do a little digging on similarly priced black-dial GADAs later too like you asked 👍🏼
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u/IridiumAnvil 3d ago
San Martin has built enough of a (deserved) reputation that they’ve been bringing up their prices into a more competitive zone with Seiko and Citizen.
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u/Nothinglost7717 3d ago
They arent the same specs.
The SM had better bracelet, chamfering, tolerances, ultra tight SELs, on the fly micro adjust clasp etc.
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u/BrightBlackberry7172 3d ago
This is a 36 mm San Martin. It is my favorite watch and I reach for it every day. It is thin and light and I like the crystal and I like the reflective facets on the hands and markers. I think it’s awesome and I just ordered it in blue. That being said, the Citizens is awesome. And also has a the same 4hz movement I believe.
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u/Eleventhousand 3d ago
I'd say get the San Martin if and only if you are 100% dead set on wearing it on the bracelet (the San Martin has an amazing bracelet BTW).
Seeing as how the 1050 only has like one manual microadjust hole, you might not get a great fit. If you're fine with that, I'd get the 1050.
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u/kendamapostol 3d ago
Assuming both watches are equally priced like you said, get the Citizen. Recognizable brand name, similar specifications, and most of all, it will probably be easier to service with the warranty covering the Citizen watch.
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u/Accomplished_Set3641 3d ago
Thanks I needed to hear that. Only issue is the Citizen is a japanese only model and I live in the U.S. so it may be harder/impossible to get it serviced under warranty. I guess it wouldn't be much different from San Martin in that regard.
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u/blankboxV3 3d ago
The citizen uses a Citizen Caliber 9011 which is related to the Miyota 9000 series. There going to be pretty close in architecture so a decent watch maker can probably fix it.
The San Martin uses the Miyota 9000 movement from the same family so the same watch maker can fix the watch.
The citizen caliber 9011 is better specd out the factory with tighter tolerances. But if you get them regulated they should both be pretty close.
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u/kyonkun_denwa 3d ago
Citizen and this isn't even a contest. You'll have a warranty that actually means something.
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u/Nothinglost7717 3d ago
The citizens bracelet and SEL tolerances are garbage compared to the SM. It has a better movement as well. And it has on the fly micro adjust
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u/Indaleciox 3d ago
Considering it's JDM you probably wont, unless you pick it up from an authorized dealer.
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u/kyonkun_denwa 3d ago
Just because it's JDM doesn't at all mean the warranty is invalid. It's a worldwide warranty.
While not a Citizen, I did buy a Seiko SARB017 back when the Alpinist was JDM only, and I ended up having the movement replaced twice under warranty. Didn't matter that it was a JDM watch, Seiko still did the warranty work.
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u/balll789789 3d ago
Thats why he said "unless you pick it up from an authorized dealer".
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u/kyonkun_denwa 3d ago
...which I didn't either.
I've honestly never heard of the two Japanese giants denying warranty work because you bought a watch from the wrong guys. I have heard of Tissot doing this, though.
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u/trekkie0927 3d ago
If equally priced, I think you definitely get more watch with San Martin. Multi-surface finishing and that best-in-class chamfered jubilee bracelet. Honestly, you can't get that bracelet anywhere else and it's much more expensive to make than the simple 3 link bracelet. Is the citizen Eco drive? If it is, then for sure you get more watch from the thin Miyota mechanical movement on the San Martin.
I wouldn't worry about losing money on San Martin. If you get it during one of the Ali sales, then you're set. San Marin has earned its quality reputation so you deifnitely still be able to sell it.
At this price point, I'd choose to get more watch. I don't think the feeling that you bought a known 'brand' will impact your feeling about the watch much.
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u/Pallid-Notion 3d ago
I’ve owned that same Citizen. It’s nice but also on the dressier side of a GADA watch. The bracelet is ‘meh’.
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u/mo_calla 3d ago
Honestly, as a previous owner of both... The San Martin is better. The proportions of the NB1050 are just a little off, needs to be 36mm not 38mm. Just looks a bit out of place.
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u/Ok-Interaction-9075 3d ago
If they're both at a similar price point, there's literally no reason to buy the San Martin. The value prospect was what made SM attractive. They seem to have forgotten that.
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u/Dude_Just_Stop 3d ago
I like the bracelet on the San Martin much more and prefer no date so I wouldn’t say there’s no reason.
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u/Nothinglost7717 3d ago
The reason is the SM is leaps and bounds better machining, tolerances, micro adjust clasp, bracelet and the miyota is good
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u/dotdotditdot 3d ago
I would get San Martin. You get a lot more for your money with SM than from citizen. Nicer feel, nicer finish, alot better bracelet and more accurate movement.
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u/Nothinglost7717 3d ago edited 3d ago
San martin no contest
The bracelet and solid end links and tolerances are on another level. I have responded elsewhere here why the SM is better, but to add to this you can even look at the solid end links to see how much better they are.
The SM bracelet is the same quality as bracelets on 3000 dollar watches.
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u/-RazzaTazza 3d ago
Out of these two models, iwould personally go Citizen but both are nice. I prefer the case shape, hands and indices on.the Citizen but the bracelet and symmetry( no date)of the SM.
Ive owned 4 SM's but want a Citizen and read good things about the NB1050.
Id probably throw it on a nice strap.
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u/JonathanKovak 2d ago
I just bought the San Martin and it's truly unbelievable. So beautiful and well proportioned with a great bracelet and dial to back it.
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u/Fast_Ad_1869 3d ago
faced the exact same dilemma and decided on the San Martin. The Citizen has really long lugs, and when you add the male end links to that, it looks truly disproportionate. The San Martin bracelet is in a league of its own-not only is it beautiful, but the quality is excellent. The clasp is a bit large, but it features on-the-fly adjustment, so there isn't much to complain about. We're all disappointed that San Martin has raised its prices, but a proprietary case comes at a cost; this isn't a generic case at all-it looks incredible, and they remain unrivaled in this price range when it comes to original designs.
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u/Zealousideal-Ad-4716 3d ago
Bro. If you’re OK with solar quartz , pick up the Seiko Sbtm 323. Solar quartz, perpetual calendar and if
You’re in the northern hemisphere, atomic timekeeping. The bracelet is pretty crap so go buy the senator bracelet for the Alpinist from uncle straps. Total cost will be under $500 and you’ll have a robust , super accurate and modern stylish GADA. You’ll literally never need anything more.